My wife & I love these kinds of hands, as we use the Mini-Roman opening bid. It is quite a popular bid in Quebec. Opener with such a hand opens 2 Diamonds--which is alerted. Responder, with less than 10 points, responds with the lower of his two higher touching suits (this is a pass or correct bid). With 10 or more points, responder bids 2 NT--which is a demand bid asking partner to name their short suit. Then responder knows exactly what the combined shape of the two hands is and the minimum point count they hold and so can place the contract appropriately. (Every bid in this sequence is alerted.) We have found suitable contracts that many others missed.
Andrew Robson suggests that if you have a 12 count you should pass with a 4441 hand. If you are playing 5 card major you have only 2 options 1C or pass.
Hi John! There are lots of different approaches out there and you can pick the way that you find works most often. We don't recommend passing with 12 HCP as you will miss games by doing that. Hope this helps!
For the weaker player: Should play the 8S not 10S. Then do not have to remember that the 10S is gone. As memory aid we always (as declarer) lead bottom of sequence,
I think you and Graeme have ducked the issue a little. I agree with all Graeme’s comments but I think the difficult 4441 distribution is when it really is 4441 S/H/D/C.Any opening bid has a problem when partner rebids 2 clubs if you only have 12/14 points? I get out of this by playing Crowhurst wide-ranging 12-16 NT rebid. Your comments would be appreciated. Regards
Never heard of Crowhurst, but not sure why this is a problem in Acol. Doesn't partner need 10hcp to bid 2C? In that case, simply bid 2H! With 6hcp & no better bid, partner can bid 1NT.
Grahame you are so funny 😂
My wife & I love these kinds of hands, as we use the Mini-Roman opening bid. It is quite a popular bid in Quebec. Opener with such a hand opens 2 Diamonds--which is alerted. Responder, with less than 10 points, responds with the lower of his two higher touching suits (this is a pass or correct bid). With 10 or more points, responder bids 2 NT--which is a demand bid asking partner to name their short suit. Then responder knows exactly what the combined shape of the two hands is and the minimum point count they hold and so can place the contract appropriately. (Every bid in this sequence is alerted.) We have found suitable contracts that many others missed.
Andrew Robson suggests that if you have a 12 count you should pass with a 4441 hand. If you are playing 5 card major you have only 2 options 1C or pass.
Hi John! There are lots of different approaches out there and you can pick the way that you find works most often. We don't recommend passing with 12 HCP as you will miss games by doing that. Hope this helps!
Excellent
On occasions when I play Acol I still use Graeme's "Bridge Makes Racy Ladies" (Black Middle , Red Lower) for 4441 openings
It's a nice memorable mnemonic! Glad you find it helpful, Paul.
For the weaker player: Should play the 8S not 10S. Then do not have to remember that the 10S is gone. As memory aid we always (as declarer) lead bottom of sequence,
I think you and Graeme have ducked the issue a little. I agree with all Graeme’s comments but I think the difficult 4441 distribution is when it really is 4441 S/H/D/C.Any opening bid has a problem when partner rebids 2 clubs if you only have 12/14 points? I get out of this by playing Crowhurst wide-ranging 12-16 NT rebid. Your comments would be appreciated.
Regards
Never heard of Crowhurst, but not sure why this is a problem in Acol.
Doesn't partner need 10hcp to bid 2C?
In that case, simply bid 2H!
With 6hcp & no better bid, partner can bid 1NT.
What if the singleton is a Club?
yes.
What about nt
Precision 2 D says 4-4-1-4
What if your partner bids 2 Clubs?
Then you've found your fit! :) a 2C raise by Responder denies a 4-card major. Hope this helps!
very strange that V didn't play the King of hearts
Exactly. Very bad defending
You don’t play 5 cards major? Open 1 club! 1club 1 heart 2Hearts or 1 club 1 Spade 2 spades.
😍👍👍
vg = common sense